Belleview adopts new budget rule

Thursday

Oct 22, 2009 at 1:35 AM

The Belleview budget will get more fragmented after the City Commission on Tuesday approved a new fund balance policy.

By Jackie AlexanderStaff writer

The Belleview budget will get more fragmented after the City Commission on Tuesday approved a new fund balance policy.The rule is intended to help the city save for a rainy day, said City Clerk Sandi McKamey."It helps because when you're looking at the money that you have, it really makes you look at the money you don't have," McKamey said.In addition to mandated restricted monies, the policy requires the city to save $500,000 in the general fund balance and $1 million in the water and sewer fund balance in the event of an emergency or economic downturns.But Commissioner Christine Dobkowski, the lone dissenting vote, said a new policy further dividing the budget into more line items makes the budget process confusing for residents."The more we divide the money up, the less knowledge the citizen has about how much money we have," she said.The majority of the commissioners said they understood the need to restrict the money to ensure the city's future."Better times may not come for a while," said Commissioner Wilma Loar.In other board action:Trains may be allowed to travel 5 miles per hour faster. The commission, with Dobkowski dissenting, voted to bring forth a resolution allowing CSX trains a speed increase to 45 mph. The vote on the resolution will be at the next commission meeting.Mayor Tammy Moore said she had received Commissioner Michael Goldman's resignation letter, effective Nov. 17. Goldman told the Star-Banner earlier this month that he planned to resign so he could spend more time with his family. The commission can choose to appoint a replacement until the 2010 general election or hold a special election in the spring.